Last Spring a CTCF-/EcoAlbania-team visited the famous Valbona river. Findings, ambition, and hope led to drafting a plan for conserving the ecosystem and the trout in this catchment, introducing fly-fishing as a trigger for boosting non aggravating tourism businesses. We had managed to get the support of many governmental and managerial bodies for this. Also the local inhabitants realized that “something” needed to be done, if only it were to safeguard this very pearl in the Albanian Alps for generations to come, in the Tropoja district, Albania as such, and abroad.

However, we have seen, during that same visit, the first, basic construction works for what was to become a hydro power plant. This, of course, was worrying, yet could be overcome if only proper measures were taken, in time. Since, we learned that a few more of such plants are being considered along the river, if not planned already. The overall panorama is everything but clear…

You can imagine the doubts we had in releasing our “promotional” trailer. Still we think it wise to do so, to spread the word, and to make an appeal to those who do have it in their power to not make this failure, irreversible as its consequences will be for the valley, and its potential in many other, more sustainable ways. And, controversial enough: in ever so profitable ways.